Key retainer



June 26, 1956 L. BLUESTONE KEY RETAINER Filed Aug. 8, 1955 INVENTOR.

LEON BLUESTONE BYMW/MZZ United States Patent Oflice KEY RETAINER Leon Bluestone, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application August 8, 1955, Serial No. 527,067

9 Claims.. (Cl. 70-456) This invention relates to a key retainer and more particularly to a key retaining device which is adapted to be mounted in an enveloping key case.

It is an object of this invention to provide a key retaining unit which is adapted to hold a substantial number of keys in such manner as to be available for immediate selection and use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a key retainer which is adapted to be mounted in an enveloping key case and which may readily be carried in the pocket or handbag of the user with a minimum amount of bulk and which is capable of safely and securely retaining a plurality of keys against the possibility of dislodgement or loss.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a key retainer adapted to be mounted in an enveloping key case on which a plurality of keys may be mounted in a secure manner and wherein keys may be removed, substituted or replaced with a minimum amount of manipulation of the device and without disturbing the relative positions of the keys during the process.

A further object of this invention is to provide a key retainer wherein a simple and effective locking device is provided capable of retaining a plurality of keys securely locked in position and releasing the keys from locked condition as desired.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a key retainer which may be readily secured to an enveloping case.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a key retaining device adapted to be mounted in an enveloping case which is simple but effective and which may be economically produced on a large scale.

Other and further objects, benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description thereof contained in the annexed drawings, specifications and claims or will otherwise become obvious. It will be understood that the invention herein disclosed may be employed for other purposes for which the parts, structure and arrangement are adapted.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an enveloping case for a key retainer in accordance with the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are side elevational views of the key retaining device showing the locking slide in lowered or locked position;

Figure 4 is a transverse cross-section of the key enveloping case and retainer positioned therein taken along line 44 of Figure 1;

Figures 5 and 6 are side elevational views of the key retaining device showing the locking slide in raised or release position;

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-section of the key retaining device taken along line 77 of Figure 4; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary View of the device similar to Figure 7 and showing the locking post withdrawn from its retaining stud and showing the locking slide in release position.

Figure 1 illustrates a conventional type key enveloping case 10 which is usually formed of a sheet of flexible material, such as fabric, leather or plastic and in which the two overlapping flaps 11 and 12 are releasably secured to each other by means of a snap fastener 13. Key enveloping cases of this type are old in the art and although a preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in connection with a flexible envelope of this character, it will be understood that the device may be applied to various types of cases and may be formed of rigid material if desired. It is also significant that although the device is primarily intended to be mounted within an enveloping case, it may nevertheless be utilized for mounting and carrying a plurality of keys without the use of a futher enclosure. As may be more clearly seen from Figures 2, 3 and 8 the key retaining device comprises a supporting plate 14 which is essentially an elongated strip of metal or similar rigid material. The supporting plate 14 is provided with an opening 15 which serves to permit the passage of a rivet 16 or similar fastening device by means of which the key retainer may be secured to a suitable envelope or case. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 4, 7 and 8 a spacing washer 17 is provided intermediate supporting plate 14 and case wall 18 in order to permit the retainer to be mounted, parallel with the case wall.

Extending transversely from supporting plate 14 adjacent its upper end is a transverse tubular boss 19. The boss 19 is provided with a longitudinal bore 20 which registers with a similar opening 21 in supporting plate 14. The boss 19 may be formed integrally with plate 14 or it may be formed as a separate element and secured in position as by soldering, brazing or welding. The outside diameter of boss 19 is such as to enable the boss to be received in the usual opening 23 provided in the head of a key. Thus, it may be seen in Figure 8 a number of keys 22 may be mounted on boss 19 in parallel relation with supporting plate 14.

In order to prevent keys 22 from coming ofi the free end of boss 19 a locking pin 24 is provided. Locking pin 24 is formed of a rod which is complementary to the bore 20 of boss 19 in cross-section so that it may be readily telescopically inserted and removed from the bore of said boss. Locking pin 24 is provided with an enlarged head or cap 25 at the end thereof which abuts the free edge of boss 19; the other end of said locking pin being provided with a circumferential groove 26. The body of locking pin 24 is longer than the longitudinal bore 20 of the key supporting boss 19 and consequently the circumferential groove 26 is located clear of the supporting plate and in registration with the operative aperture 35 of the locking slide, as will more clearly appear hereafter.

A reciprocable locking slide 27 is mounted upon supporting plate 14 for the purpose of securing the locking pin 24 in position within the boss as well as forreleasing the pin. As may be more clearly seen from Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6 the slide member 27 comprises a body portion 28 having a pair of inwardly extending flanges 29 which embrace the side edges of supporting plate 14 whereby the slide is mounted for reciprocable movement on said supporting plate. is provided at the upper end of the slide for the purpose of enabling the slide to be readily grasped for operation. The supporting plate 14 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 30; and slide 27 is providedv with a complementary inwardly extending finger 31 which rests within the slot and therefore acts as a limit stop to define the limits of the reciprocable movements of the slide. Lip 32 and finger 31 may advantageously Patented June 26, 1956 An outwardly extending lip 32.

aperture; 35 comprising a longitudinally; extendingslot, or neck 33 which merges with an enlarged bulbous lower portion 34. r In reciprocating the locking slide arenas one and neck portions of key hole apertureBS are alternatelyjbrought into registration with the opening 21 of supporting plate 14. As may be seen from. Figures 5;

6 and 8 when the locking slide is in raised position the bulbous portion 34 of the key hole aperture is in registration with the bore of transverse boss 19 and the opening21 in the supporting plate. Locking pin 24 may then be readily inserted through the boss. and thefcircumferential groove 26 of the. locking pin is brought into registration. with the walls: of the key hole aperture. The bulbous end of the key hole aperture is large enough to clear the locking pin. Thereupon the recip rocable locking slide 27 is depressed and moved downwardly thereby causing the restricted neck portion of the aperture to enter the circumferential groove on the locking pin and thus prevent the withdrawal of the locking pin from the device. This condition is illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 7.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the instant device provides an arrangement for retaining a plurality of keys upon a retaining device in a compact and effective manner and that keys may be readily removed and inserted thereon as desired. In operation with the looking pin removed, as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 8, any number of keys may be positioned upon the. transverse stud, the sole limiting factor being the length of the stud. With'the desired number of keys in position upon the stud the locking pin is telescopically inserted into the longitudinal bore of the stud until the cap on the locking pin abuts with the edge of the free end of the stud. Thereupon the locking slide is reciprocated downwardly and the entrance of the wall'sof the neck portion of the key hole aperture within the space provided by the circumferential groove securely locks the locking pin in position. This condition is illustrated in Figures ,2, 3 and 7. When the key retainer is, locked in the manner indicated the dislodgement of keys therefrom is prevented by the enlarged end cap on the free end of the lockingpin. However, the keys are available for selection and instant use by merely pivoting the desired key out of alignment with the remaining keys. on the retainer. When a key is so pivoted it may be inserted in a lock and turnedby merely rotatingthe entire device. Since the entire device. thus provides a handle or lever for turning, the key it is no longer necessary to'provide keys with enlarged heads conventionally employed. Thus, it is merely necessary to provide a head.

for. the key which is sufficiently large to provide an opening therein dimensioned so. as to receive the transverse stud. Siace the size of the key head may thus be materially reduced the bulk of the .key retainer as a whole, including its enveloping case, is correspondingly reduced. It should be noted that. although Figures 4, 7 and 8 illustrate an enveloping case for the, key retainer,

the walls of which are somewhat spaced from, the keys and the retaining device,, this spaci'ngis provided for'the purpose of clarity of illustration only and in actual practice the walls of the enveloping case should be in close proximity to the keys and the retaining device. Thus, the entire assembly occupies very little more space than that required for the retainer and keys themselves.

Another significant feature of the invention resides in the simplicity and convenience by means ofwhich keys may be removed or substituted when desired. This is accomplished primarily by the release of the locking pin as a result of the upward reciprocation of the locking slide wherein the bulbous portion of the key hole aperture is brought into registration with the inwardly extending 'end of the locking pin and the key hole aperthe locking pin. With the locking pin removed as illustrated in Figure 8, keys may be readily removed, rearranged or new keys inserted as desired. Additionally, where for example, it is desired to merely remove one key from its location in the center of the group without disturbing the sequence in which the keys are arranged, any number of keys maybe slid" from the stud on to the locking pin as the locking pin is being withdrawn so that the group of keys is divided between the stud and the locking pin as desired without disturbing the sequence of the arrangement. The undesired key may then be removed, a substitute key may be inserted or new keys added. The retainer may then be reassembled and locked by merely moving the keys from the locking pin on to the stud as the locking pin is reinserted in the bore of the stud. Another feature of the invention which should be noted resides in the fact that the retainer is secured to the enveloping case along one side only so mounted in an enveloping case by the use of a single fastener which is a rivet.

I have here shown and described apreferred embodiment of my invention. It will be apparent, however, that this invention is not limited to this embodiment and that many changes, additions and modifications can be made in connection therewith without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

l. A key retainer comprising a supporting plate, a transverse boss having a longitudinal bore therethrough extendingfrom said plate and adapted to be received in the opening of a key head whereby a plurality of keys may be mounted thereon, a locking pin removably received in said boss for preventing the dislodgeruent of keys from said boss, a slide element 'reciprocably carried by said supporting plate, means provided .on said locking pin and complementary means provided on said slide for engagement therewith whereby said pin is releasably retained within said boss. 7

2. A key retainer comprising a supporting plate adapted to be secured in an enveloping case, a transverse tubular boss extending from said plate, said plate being provided with an opening therethrongh in registration with the boreof the boss, a complementary locking pin telescopically received. within said boss, said pin being pro vided' with an enlarged head at one end and a circumferential groove at the other, said. grooved end, when said pin is positioned within said boss, extending beyond said plate, a reciprocable slide'mounted on said plateand provided with a key hole aperture therethrough in registration with the end of said V 3. A key retainer comprising a supporting plate adapted to be secured in an enveloping case, a transverse tubular boss extending from said plate, said plate being pro vided with an opening therethrough in registration with the bore of the boss, a-complementary locking pin tele scopically received within said boss, said pinbein'g pro-1 vided with an enlarged head at one end and a circumengagement with a'portion of the walls surrounding said aperture. p y

' 4. A key retainer comprising asupporting plate adapted to be secured to an enveloping case, a boss provided with a horizontal bore therethrough extending transversely from said plate, said boss being adapted to be received in the opening of a key head whereby a plurality of keys may be mounted thereon, said supporting plate being provided with an opening therethrough in registration with the bore through said boss, a locking pin telescopically receivable within the bore of said boss, said pin being provided with an enlarged head at one end to thereby prevent the passage of a key from its position on said boss, the other end of said pin being provided with a circumferential grooved portion extending beyond said plate, a reciprocable slide carried by said plate for releasably engaging the grooved portion of said pin.

5. A key retainer comprising a supporting plate adapted to be secured to an enveloping case, a boss provided with a horizontal bore therethrough extending transversely from said plate, said boss being adapted to be received in the opening of a key head whereby a plurality of keys may be mounted thereon, said supporting plate being provided with an opening therethrough in registration with the bore through said boss, a locking pin telescopically receivable within the bore of said boss, said pin being provided with an enlarged head at one end to thereby prevent the passage of a key from its position on said boss, the other end of said pin being provided with a circumferential grooved portion extending beyond said plate, a reciprocable slide carried by said plate for releasably engaging the grooved portion of said pin, said slide being provided with a key hole aperture for releasable engagement with the grooved portion of said locking pin upon the reciprocation of said slide for engagement therewith.

6. The device according to claim 5 wherein said reciprocable slide is provided with inwardly extending flanges encompassing the side edges of said supporting plate.

7. The device according to claim 5 wherein a longitudinally extending slot is formed in the body of said supporting plate and said slide is provided with a finger projecting therefrom and into the interior of said slot, whereby said slot defines the limits of the reciprocable movement of said slide on said supporting body.

8. The device according to claim 5 wherein the upper end of said slide is provided with an outwardly projecting lip, whereby said slide may be grasped for the manual reciprocation thereof.

9. The device according to claim 5 wherein an opening is provided in the lower end of said supporting plate for engagement with fastening means, whereby said supporting plate is adapted to be secured to an enveloping case.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 165,794 Coleman July 20, 1875 690,396 Brown Ian. 7, 1902 1,749,630 Donaldson Mar. 4, 1930 1,898,202 Murray Feb. 21, 1933 2,720,777 Kocsi Oct. 18, 1955 

